That's pretty much as expected. It was mostly a question of whether it would be one 6th and three 7th's, or four 7th's. Gaffney would be the free agent lost that got them a 6th; Paxton, Evans and Jordan would be the free agency losses that got them the 7th's. The Pats didn't sign anyone that would qualify in the compensatory pick formula to cancel out those losses; the free agents they signed that were cut by other teams like Taylor don't count. The Pats lost Larry Izzo too but four compensatory picks is the maximum a team can receive.

Still, I hear those 6th round Compensation picks can sometimes work out.

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How do you figure? The primary consideration is what the player the team lost signed his new contract for. That would be Jabar Gaffney who signed for what, about $2.5 million? Big money players like Haynesworth get you a 3rd, a 4th rounder would go to players signing for about $5-6 million a year, a 5th would be compensation for a guy signing for around $4 mil, etc. Evans, Paxton, Jordan and Izzo were all about $1 million signings and therefore the minimum (7th round) compensation.

I know this is 20-20 hindsight and crying over spilt milk, but it sure would have been nice if the draft picks from certain trades for players that were cut (Alex Smith, Greg Lewis) were still available - and there was no need to be compensated with the 205th pick of the draft. . .

I know this is 20-20 hindsight and crying over spilt milk, but it sure would have been nice if the draft picks from certain trades for players that were cut (Alex Smith, Greg Lewis) were still available - and there was no need to be compensated with the 205th pick of the draft. . .